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2022 WPFD: IPC Launches Documentaries On worst violations, Attack On Nigeria’s Journalists

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By Joel Ajayi
In its quest to ensure better protection for the Journalists and other media professionals in the country, the International Press Centre, IPC, Lagos-Nigeria has unveiled twin documentaries that believes will go a long way to put an end to the worst harassment, molestation and attack they suffer while discharging their responsibilities.

The documentaries include; a publication on attacks on journalists and other media professionals and workers during the COVID-19 lockdown, titled ‘Voices From COVID19 Frontlines’. The second documentary focuses on the molestation of journalists and arson attacks on media outlets during #EndSars and it is titled: ‘Voices From #EndSars Frontlines.”


The Executive Director of IPC, Mr Lanre Arogundade, while speaking on Wednesday, in Abuja, at the occasion to commemorate 2022 World Press Freedom Day which was globally marked on May 3rd with the theme: “Journalism Under Digital Siege”, he said that there is need for urgent action from all stakeholders to tame the unpleasant experiences of journalists in the country.


Mr Lanre, who lamented on the time to time the worst violations of journalists and media which happened to be an important tool in the growth and development of any nation, however, frowned at the120th position of Nigeria in the world, in the year 2021.


According to him, unfortunately, despite these weighty responsibilities, journalists and other media professionals who find themselves on the frontlines get molested and harassed.
“This discovery made us conclude that we need to document the experiences of these journalists and other media professionals for the purpose of capturing in greater detail what really transpired and sensitize relevant stakeholders on the need to put a halt to such unwelcome trends.


“Our objective of revisiting the past, is to draw necessary lessons to avoid a repeat and chart a better course for journalism in Nigeria. Consequently, beyond the airing of the documentaries, we are also gathered for a stimulating roundtable discussion on protection for journalists as frontline workers during crisis and emergency periods.


“It is a great privilege that we have in the hall important stakeholders concerned about journalism advancement and safety of journalists, who have agreed to share their perspectives and thoughts on the subject matter.


“We are gladdened by your acceptance of our invitation and I know we will benefit immensely from your wealth of diverse resources and experiences. Through them, we may be able to attain the objective of developing mechanisms for the protection of journalists during crisis situations.


“While interacting with some of the journalists assaulted during the Covid-19 lockdown and #EndSars, however, we discovered that statistics alone cannot tell the full stories of their ordeal including the immediate and later effects on their physical and mental well-being. Neither did the figures tell the full story of their losses.”


Mr Arogundade however, saluted the courage of Journalists especially the affected ones for their effort in the development of Nigeria.


 “IPC salutes the courage of the journalists who were affected and who have decided not to keep silent in the face of tyranny, and who commendably, have opted to tell their stories for the Nigerian public and the global freedom of expression community to have a deeper insight into the landmines they stepped on with dire consequences; and which still lay on the path of journalists in the course of legitimate duty.


 “We appreciate and commend their bravery in going to what can be likened to the war fronts to bring information to the people. It is hoped that by speaking out loudly and boldly, they would be able to get the desired justice. “

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Tax Reform Bills: The Verdict of Nigerians

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Ismaila Ahmad Abdullahi Ph.D

The public hearings conducted recently by the two Chambers of the National Assembly have elicited positive responses from a broad spectrum of Nigerians, cutting across regional interest groups, government agencies, civil society groups, concerned individuals, the academia, and Labour Unions, among diverse others. Contrary to a few dissensions hitherto expressed in the media, almost all the stakeholders who spoke during the week-long sessions were unanimous in their declaration that the hallowed Chambers should pass the tax reform bills after a clean-up of the grey areas.

The public hearings were auspicious for all Nigerians desirous of economic growth and fiscal responsibility. They were also a watershed moment for the Federal Inland Revenue Service, which had been upbeat about the tax reforms. Indeed, the public hearings had rekindled hope in the tenets of democracy that guarantee freedom of expression and equitable space for cross-fertilisation of ideas. Without gainsaying the fact, the tax reform bills have been unarguably about the most thought-provoking issues in Nigeria today, drawing variegated perspectives and commentaries from even unlikely quarters such as the faith-based leaders, student bodies, and trade unions, which speaks much about the importance of the bills.

In the build-up to the public hearings, not many people believed that the bills would make it to the second reading, much less the public hearings. Even the Northern stakeholders who seemed unlikely to support the passage of the bills have softened their stance and have given valuable suggestions that would enrich the substance of the bills. The Arewa Consultative Forum came to the public hearings well-prepared with a printed booklet that addressed their concerns. It concluded with an advisory that the bills should be “Well planned, properly communicated, strategically implemented and ample dialogue and political consensus allowed for the reforms to be accepted.”

The concerns of ACF ranged from the composition of the proposed Nigeria Revenue Service Board as contained in Part 111, Section 7 of the bill, the unlimited Presidential power to exempt/wave tax payment as proposed in Section 75(1) of the bill, the family income or inheritance tax as contained in Part 1, Section 4(3) of the bill, to the issues around development levy and VAT. On the development levy, the ACF stated that unless the Federal Government is considering budgetary funding for TETFUND, NASENI and NITDA, it does not see the “wisdom behind the plan to replace (them) with NELFUND”.

The position of the North was equally reinforced by the Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria, Northern Elders Forum, Kano State Government, Professor Auwalu Yadudu, and the FCT Imams. Like the ACF, these stakeholders lent their respective voices to the Section on the Inheritance Tax in Part 1 of the bill and the use of the term ‘ecclesiastical’, which, in their views, undermines certain religious rights and beliefs. The Kano State Government, represented by Mahmud Sagagi, affirmed that “we support tax modernisation” but cautioned that “we must ensure that this process does not come at the expense of states’ constitutional rights and economic stability”. Professor Auwalu Yadudu, a constitutional law professor, drew attention to the use of the ‘supremacy clause’ and cautioned that the repeated use of “notwithstanding” in the bills would undermine the supremacy of the Nigerian constitution if passed as such.

Other stakeholders that made contributions at the sessions included the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas, Fiscal Responsibility Commission, Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, Nigeria Customs Service, and a host of others. While most of their concerns bordered on technical issues requiring fine-tuning, they were unanimous in their support for the bills. They aligned with the position of the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Zacch Adedeji, Ph.D. and the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, which is that the extant tax laws and fiscal regulations are obsolete necessitating reforms aimed at creating a fair and equitable tax and fiscal space to grow Nigeria’s economy.

In one of the sessions, Dr Zaach Adedeji expounded on the criss-cross of trade activities in the Free Trade Zone whereby companies misuse tax waivers as exporters to sell their goods or services in the Customs Area at an amount usually less than the price the operators in the Customs Area who pay VAT and other taxes sell theirs thereby disrupting business transactions. This way, the operators in the Free Trade Zone shortchange the government in paying their due taxes by circumventing extant regulations, which are inimical to the economy’s growth.

Overall, the presentations were forthright, foresighted, and helpful in elucidating the issues contained in the bills. According to the statistics read out at the end of the hearings at the Senate, 75 stakeholders were invited, 65 made submissions, and 61 made presentations. At the House of Representatives 53 stakeholders made presentations. By all means, this is a fair representation. Given the presentations, it is evident that the National Assembly has gathered enough materials to guide its deliberations on the bills. As we look forward to the passage of the bills, we commend the leadership of the National Assembly for their unwavering commitment to making the bills see the light of the day.

Abdullahi is the Director of the Communications and Liaison Department, FIRS.

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